The Uruguayan has created an indelible imprint on those who have watched him torment defences for three years; his haul of 82 goals provides just a snapshot of what Suarez has offered to the Reds.

The elegies and eulogies have started already.

Some say Suarez is irreplaceable. Others have begun the grieving process with a firm denial of his abilities, as if his time on Merseyside has been a mirage, a trick of the mind to entertain while Andy Carroll stomped around and missed chances.

Neither point of view is true. Suarez is replaceable, whether with a like-for-like forward or a number of new additions; likewise, Suarez is as very much as good as everybody believes him to be, one who is now woven into the club's tapestry.

Here are the unquestionable facts: Suarez was one of the most skilful, ingenious players to pull on a red shirt. Throughout the controversy – which, granted, will not be missed – Suarez became one of the best Liverpool players in a generation. Also, after widespread condemnation for the controversies, the fans' support of him also puts him amongst one of the most-loved.

But where he now stands in the all-time list of great Liverpool players – both on and off the pitch – is for debate. Can he claim to be amongst the best to play for the Reds?

In his exclusive ECHO interview in February, he said: “I think Liverpool have a long history with many great players. I hope one day to be up there with those great players. I'll try my best to write some history here.”

Suarez has made history. In December, he became the first Premier League player to score 10 goals in a calendar month, embarking on his own individual Goal of the Month competition. For Liverpool, his current scoring rate of 82 goals in 133 games – or a goal every 1.62 games – is the club's best since the Second World War.

Games per goal ratio of Liverpool FC strikers

He also possesses the second-best scoring ratio in Liverpool's 124-year history, South African gentleman Gordon Hodgson leading the all-time list with a goal every 1.56 games in the 1920s and 1930s.

His scoring record beats some of the Reds' most celebrated players, with Ian Rush (1.91 games per goal), Robbie Fowler (2.02 games per goal), Kenny Dalglish (2.99 games per goal) and Steven Gerrard (3.87 games per goal) all behind Suarez. Going even further back, to life under Bill Shankly, Roger Hunt (1.72 games per goal) and Albert Stubbins (2.14 games per goal) cannot compete with the Uruguayan.

Such statistics can skewer reality, of course. Rush had barren spells to bookend his career; Fowler's biggest adversary was his injuries; Dalglish and Gerrard were not solely goalscorers. Some also produced plenty of goals in their prime – something Suarez is now in – but towards the end of their careers, the opportunities became fewer.

But even still, when considering performances for Liverpool until the age of 27 – Suarez's current age – Suarez's goal-to-game ratio is bettered only by Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge.

So an all-time great goalscorer for the Reds, and without question one who possesses more skill than most of his predecessors.

But best is subjective, and it also encompasses more than just goals and assists. And while Suarez will be talked about in future generations, children gathering around the campfire to listen of his excellence, he would leave with just one Carling Cup to his name at Anfield.

Players like Dalglish, Gerrard and Rush embodied the club. Suarez did similar last season, his never-say-die, unrelenting nature the perfect snapshot of what the Reds did so well. He became the face of this new, confident, belligerent Liverpool.

But while those considered the best stayed, Suarez has left. Those who are considered amongst the best in the past 30 years – Dalglish, Gerrard, Rush, John Barnes – remained at Anfield throughout their prime.

This Suarez departure looks to be more amicable than when Torres or Michael Owen departed, but the lingering sense of what if? will always remain with the Uruguayan. He was the spearhead of the Reds' unlikely title challenge, helping them to within two points of the Premier League title.

Next season, Liverpool will look to go one better domestically, and also have Champions League nights to enjoy once more.

There will not be bitterness, but regret; regret at not seeing what Suarez could do with Adam Lallana,Rickie Lambert, Emre Can and other signings that will follow. The exciting side Brendan Rodgers has built will be without one of its foundations for the new season.

Liverpool can recover. Sturridge scored 35 goals in 49 games – a ratio of a goal every 1.4 games. With one more appearance, he will officially have the best goalscoring record of any Liverpool player with 50 appearances or more.

The debris of his whirlwind three-and-a-half stay at Anfield will be evident.

It will be for the fans to pick up the pieces as the contemplate whether he truly is one of the best Anfield has ever seen. If he had stayed, there would be no question; because he hasn't and decided to click his own red heels together, he leaves nothing but questions.

Previous Articles

Lazar Markovic will become the second most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history if his proposed £25million move from Benfica goes through this week. James Pearce examines what has convinced the Reds to make such a huge investment in the young Serbian winger

Send a story

Advertising Department

Trinity Mirror Merseyside, the Echo's parent company, is one of the North West’s largest multimedia providers reaching more than 900,000 adults every month.

The Liverpool Echo, Trinity Mirror Merseyside’s flagship brand, is the area’s best-read newspaper including national newspapers.

The Liverpool Echo reaches 1 in 3 people in the area with a daily readership of more than 256,000* people.The Liverpool Echo website reaches 1.5 million unique users each month who look at around 8.5 million pages**.

The Editor

Alastair Machray

Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.